NCAA Power 16 Rankings

Aaron CraftLosses by Michigan State, Kentucky and Kansas (in that order) last week have shaken up the upper tier of the Power 16 Ratings.

And that’s why the Ohio State Buckeyes have ascended to the top.

And, to cut off any and all Arizona or Syracuse fans who believe – perhaps, rightly – is the best club in the country right now, recall the rules of this puppy:

Teams that don’t lose don’t get jumped in the ratings, no matter how impressive the teams behind them in the previous Power 16 were the week before.

This stuff all plays out in the end, folks. Relax.

Rank (Last Week)

Record

Comment

1. Ohio State (4)

8-0

No opponent has cracked 70 points against the Buckeyes and only three have scored at least 60. Deeeeeeeeeefense.

2. Arizona (5)

9-0

In a game in which Aaron Gordon and Nick Johnson were a combined six of 25 from the field, the Wildcats’ offensive balance came through in a narrow win over UNLV

3. Syracuse (6)

9-0

Coach Jim Boeheim’s crew has better part of a week to prep for the Dec. 15 game against former Big East foe St. John’s.

4. Connecticut (7)

9-0

The Huskies can focus on no one but themselves until the Dec. 18 tilt against Stanford.

5. Wichita State (8)

9-0

The Southeastern Conference portion of the Shockers’ schedule (vs. Tennessee Saturday and Alabama on Dec. 17) is up next.

6. Michigan St. (1)

7-1

It was an inevitable that the Spartans were going to lose this season. That conceded, not a lot of folks figured a struggling (at least it seemed so) North Carolina squad could go into East Lansing and pretty much dominate the game.

7. Kansas (3)

6-2

The Jayhawks have been well short of impressive in terms of execution at both ends of the floor since the win over Duke.

8. Kentucky (2)

7-2

Toughies at home to unbeaten Boise State (Tuesday night) and in Chapel Hill on Saturday.

9. Duke (9)

7-2

The Dec. 16 contest against Gardner-Webb is the only contest the Blue Devils will play in a 15-day stretch.

10. Louisville (10)

8-1

Granted, the comp hasn’t been very good but the average margin in the eight wins in nearly 30 points.

11. Oklahoma State (11)

8-1

The Dec. 21 game against former Big 12 foe Colorado in the Las Vegas MGM Grand is looking even, eh, “grander” now after the Buffs win over Kansas.

12. Iowa State (13)

7-0

The Iowa Hawkeyes visit Ames in what should be some dandy Friday the 13th entertainment.

13. Wisconsin (14)

10-0

Barring significant upset (each of the next three games are in Madison) the Badgers should take a 13-0 mark into their Big Ten opener at Northwestern on Jan. 2.

14. Villanova (15)

9-0

It’s going to be a little like the not-so-long-ago good old days when the Wildcats visit former Big East rival Syracuse on Dec. 28.

15. Memphis (16)

6-1

Only a Friday night game with Arkansas-Little Rock stands between a cool home contest against Florida on Dec. 17.

16. North Carolina (NR)

6-2

Most pundits seem to be having a difficult time getting a handle on this squad. I would imagine Roy Williams is every bit as perplexed.

*Baylor: The Bears overtook Kentucky in the second half Friday night for a 67-62 win in Arlington, TX.

*Colorado: Askia Booker’s buzzer beater jolted Kansas and sent what only seemed like all of Boulder into a post-game frenzy.

*Connecticut: The Huskies, via Shabazz Napier’s buzzer-beating jump shot, edged visiting Florida for their fourth victory by margins of two or fewer points (three of those by a single point). Later in the week they knocked off Maine to go 9-0.

*North Carolina: The Tar Heels, coming off a loss at UAB, handed then-unbeaten and top-ranked Michigan State a 79-65 defeat in East Lansing Wednesday night.